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I Have Some Good News
and Some Bad News... |
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Jim Magay |
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Whatever you do – don’t open the paper! (Or turn on the radio, television, or your Blackberry) The news is BAD! Terrible in fact! Follow the advice of wise heads – just look at the sports or comic sections. Stick your head in the sand – make like an ostrich.
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Listen to soothing music, watch daytime television (well, lets not go that far), anything but the ongoing coverage of the world financial meltdown.
Some of you will be reading this in New York City - the home of the miserable B**&^#’s that started this fiscal mess (that we are now bailing out) - while attending our Vision Expo.
But wait; there is some good news!
Item: The US Chamber of Commerce reported that December 2008 retail sales overall was down a record 9.8% over December 2007.
What’s so good about that you ask?
Well, in an extremely challenging economic climate, a survey showed that during the disastrous Christmas season, independent retailers were outperforming many equivalent national stores (with losses about half what the big boys were suffering).
The Institute for Local Self Reliance reports: "During this holiday season, many more customers mentioned their intentional shopping at local businesses," said one survey respondent. Said another, "I think that the tough economy this year played a huge role in my customers intentionally shopping locally. They felt strongly about supporting those of us who are sticking it out.” Take that chain stores!
Other unrelated good news items include: January sales figures were up and February unemployment numbers were down. Across the nation schools and businesses are engaging in “green” competitions reducing waste and electricity and dependence on foreign oil. In Paris (France) they are tapping geothermal energy to heat the city. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is adding 5,000 hybrids to its green car fleet. (“We’ll pick you up,” Indeed!) Monsanto announced it would dump recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone – Yay! We can drink milk again. A West Virginia Ophthalmologist has successfully restored sight to a baby girl born blind. Starbucks has announced it will sell “value combo” options for $3.95! The J. Peterman Catalog is back. (Will Elaine be involved?)
At a recent Worcester Chamber of Commerce event we learned that the health care sector of the economy would be hurt less than most others. Cities with large medical complexes will fare better than the national norm. Biotech and research facilities will act as a stimulus for their local communities. NIH funding will be increased this year under the stimulus package and that means jobs and economic activity in the community.
The bottom line is: Sure things are tough, but we nimble independent ECP’s are doing better than the typical national chain, percentage wise, and if we keep our wits about us, we’ll survive this downturn by the old formula of under-promising and over-delivering to our loyal clients.
Jim (the eternal optimist) Magay
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